This strategic partnership, two years in the making, follows a four-month trial at 10 McDonald’s outlets in major town centres in Peninsular Malaysia. 100PLUS will also be the first ever F&N product to be served at a quick-service restaurant network in Malaysia.

Fraser & Neave Ltd senior vice president of group marketing non-alcoholic beverages, Khalid Alvi hailed the launch of the partnership which will give millions of McDonald’s customers a choice of one of Malaysia’s most iconic and pervasive brands.

“Since its launch some 35 years ago in conjunction with F&N’s Centenary Celebrations, 100PLUS has evolved from initially being a sports beverage with proven isotonic qualities to rehydrate and refresh to become the most popular choice of ready-to-drink beverage among Malaysians.

“The recent accreditation of 100PLUS original as a Healthier Choice beverage in conjunction with the Ministry of Health’s Healthier Choice campaign enables us to deepen and widen our reach with all segments of the Malaysian population.

“This is indeed another landmark for 100PLUS and we look forward to a long and mutually successful partnership with McDonald’s Malaysia, in providing its customers more choices within its existing portfolio of beverages,” added Alvi at the launch ceremony at McDonald’s Kota Damansara here.

McDonald’s Malaysia managing director and operating partner, Azmir Jaafar welcomed the marketing partnership with F&N as a win-win proposition and in offering 100PLUS as a choice within its extensive portfolio of beverage offerings to over 160 million Malaysian customers who patronise its restaurants annually.

“At McDonald’s, we focus on listening intensely to our customers and we constantly look at evolving our menu to meet their needs, as reflected in the introduction of 100PLUS,” he said.

“100PLUS’ evolution as an isotonic drink and ready-to-drink beverage needs no further affirmation and our decision to partner F&N is a strategic one to expand our range of beverage offerings in meeting the tastes and preferences of our consumers,” Azmir added.

Fraser & Neave Holdings Berhad chief executive officer, Lim Yew Hoe who was also present at the launch expressed excitement and optimism for the “win-win” partnership.

Alvi said F&N and McDonald’s Malaysia’s status as official isotonic drink and official restaurant respectively for the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games will leverage the partnership to introduce a ‘special’ offering at the Games.